Daily GK Updates - 20th January, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Question rose against Darwin’s theory of evolution: Union minister Satyapal Singh has claimed that Charles Darwin's theory of evolution of man was "scientifically wrong" and it needs to be changed in school and college curriculum.  Singh, the Minister of State for Human Resource Development, said our ancestors have nowhere mentioned that they saw an ape turning into a man.  "Darwin's theory (of evolution of humans) is scientifically wrong. It needs to change in school and college curriculum. Since the man is seen on Earth he has always been a man," he said while speaking to reporters yesterday here.  The IPS officer-turned-politician was in this central Maharashtra city to attend the 'All India Vaidik Sammelan.' "Nobody, including our ancestors, in written or oral, have said they saw an ape turning into a man," he said.  "No books we have read or the tales told to us by our grandparents had such a mention," the minister added.

2. Nine more smart cities to come up: The Urban Development Minister ‘Hardeep Singh Puri’ has announced the name of nine more smart cities (total to 99). Silvassa in Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli has topped the list of winning cities in this round of competition. The other cities include Erode (Tamil Nadu), Diu (Union Territory of Daman and Diu), Biharsharif (Bihar), Bareilly (UP), Saharanpur(UP) and Moradabad (UP),  Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh) and  Kavaratti (Lakshadweep). The total proposed investment in 99 Smart Cities will be two lakhs three thousand 979 crore rupees.

3.  Former Chief Minister of Gujarat Anandiben Patel will be the next Governor of Madhya Pradesh: She replaces Om Prakash Kohli who has an additional charge of the office of MP Governor along with the office of Gujarat Governor.

4. The Anthem -  “Bharat Ke Veer” : The Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has launched ‘Bharat Ke Veer’ anthem and a short film on India’s brave hearts in New Delhi.Bharat Ke Veer is a fund to support the families of those courageous and brave Indian soldier belongings to the eight Central Armed Police Forces, who lost their lives protecting the nation from terrorists and other anti-social elements.The fund is directly administered by the Home Ministry and is given as an annuity or one-time grant to the family of the martyred soldier.

5.  Ramayana festival with ASEAN nations in Delhi : The five-day Ramayana festival with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) nations has begun in Delhi. Troupes from ASEAN countries will display the shared heritage also at Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Ayodhya and Kolkata. The festival seeks to underline the common cultural heritage and India's friendship with ASEAN nations. The Festival is a fitting prelude to the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit on 25th January.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Britain announces public register against money laundering: Britain has announced the world's first public register that requires overseas companies that own or buy property in the country to provide details of their ultimate owners. The government is set to publish relevant draft laws and the register will go live by early 2021.This register will build on their reputation for corporate transparency as well as help create a hostile environment for economic crimes like money laundering. Properties in Britain worth 250 million dollars has been under criminal investigation for being linked to corruption since 2004. Over 75% of the properties currently under investigation have been suspected of being used off-shore corporate secrecy, a tactic regularly seen by investigators pursuing high-level money laundering.

2. India becomes 43rd member of Australia Group: India has formally become the 43rd member of the Australia Group, a group of countries instituted to counter the spread of materials, equipment and technologies. The inclusion will raise India’s stature in the field of non-proliferation and help in acquiring critical technologies. The Australia Group is a multilateral export control regime (MECR) and an informal group of established in 1985 to help member countries to identify those exports which need to be controlled so as not to contribute to the spread of chemical and biological weapons.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. India to face Pakistan in the fifth edition of “Blind Cricket World Cup” Final: The 5th edition of the Blind Cricket World Cup tournament is currently held from 8 Jan -21st Jan 2018 in Pakistan and in the United Arab Emirates(UAE). Team India (defending champion) will face arch-rival Pakistan in the 5th edition of the 2018 Blind Cricket World Cup Final at Sharjah. India defeated Bangladesh by 7 wickets in the semis to enter the Finals of the 2018 Blind Cricket World Cup. Pakistan qualified for the final of the Blind Cricket World Cup after defeating Sri Lanka.

SCIENCE/TECHNOLOGY:

1. Robo Scientist makes malaria breakthrough: Research carried out in part by a 'robot scientist' has found that a common ingredient of toothpaste could be developed to fight drug-resistant strains of malaria. In a study in 'Scientific Reports', scientists from Britain's Cambridge University who used the robot to conduct high-throughput screening said the ingredient, triclosan, showed the potential to interrupt malaria infections at two critical stages - in the liver and the blood. Malaria kills around half a million people every year, the vast majority of them children.

BANKING/ FINANCE:

1. The IMF and World Bank have commended the Reserve Bank of India(RBI) for the remarkable progress in strengthening banking supervision system: The multilateral agencies have released two Detailed Assessment Reports relating to the 2017 India Financial Sector Assessment Programme. The Report providing ‘Detailed Assessment of Observance-Basel Core Principles noted that the supervision and regulation by the Reserve Bank remain strong and have improved in recent years. Most of the Basel III framework has been implemented and cooperation arrangements are now firmly in place.

OBITUARIES:

1. Iconic Cartoonist Chandi Lahiri (86-years) passed away due to illness: Lahiri left generations of Bengalis enthralled with his brand of humour that was non-acerbic for the past five decades. He created a number of animal characters like Giraffe, Nengti (a rat), Michke (a cat) and their relationship with children.